Post by MizzouTiger on Jan 21, 2008 2:27:40 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/166/story/452717.html
No. 3 Kansas beats Missouri
By J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH
The Kansas City Star
COLUMBIA | Their leading scorer in conference play started the game so cold he could have been a thermometer outside Mizzou Arena. They were called for 12 fouls in the first half, created only five turnovers and led by just two at intermission.
If there was ever a team ripe for an upset on the road against its bitter rival, it was the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday night at Mizzou Arena. But, unlike No. 1 North Carolina and No. 4 UCLA earlier in the day, No. 3 KU simply found a way. And, also unlike the Tar Heels and Bruins, they had to do it on the road, in a city that has traditionally been a House of Horrors for undefeated Kansas teams.
The Jayhawks stayed unbeaten with a grueling 76-70 victory over the Tigers that was impressive only because it meant their record will show “18-0” when the poll voters sit down at their laptops today and decide which undefeated team — KU or Memphis — will be the new No. 1 on Monday.
Did the Jayhawks do enough to jump No. 2 Memphis? Probably not. But on a crazy day of college basketball that saw North Carolina fall to Maryland and UCLA go down to Southern California, survival was all that mattered.
“The key to having a great season is to win games when you don’t play your best,” KU coach Bill Self said. “And that’s going to happen 10 times a year, and you gotta find a way to go 8-2 in those type of games to have a great season.”
Kansas’ wins over Arizona, USC, Georgia Tech and now Missouri make the Jayhawks 4-0 in “grind-it-out games,” as they like to call them. Saturday night’s gut-check started when Kansas fell behind 7-1 early. It wasn’t easy to make up that deficit, especially the way junior guard Brandon Rush started the game.
Rush, who had led KU in two Big 12 games with 17.5 points per game, shot the ball as if his older brother and former Missouri star Kareem Rush were yelling obscenities into his ear every time the ball left his hands.
He missed his first six shots, including four open threes, and was noticeably frustrated by his inaccuracy. Rush’s night and the way he recovered turned out to be a fitting metaphor for Kansas’ scrappy win. He finished with 13 points and nine rebounds and helped ice the game with four free throws in the game’s final 2 minutes. Rush made nine of a career-high 14 attempts from the line.
“There are some players that have to make shots to play well,” Self said. “For him, I think he still can play well and not make shots. I’m proud of his aggressiveness.”
Mario Chalmers finished with 18 points, leading KU, which spread around its scoring like a hot potato. Darnell Jackson and Darrell Arthur added 13 and 10, respectively.
For Missouri, 11-7, 1-2, it was a disappointing night, an opportunity lost. Point guard Stefhon Hannah scored 23 points in an inspired effort trying to give Missouri coach Mike Anderson his first win over Kansas. It’ll have to wait until the two teams meet again on Feb. 4 in Lawrence on ESPN’s “Big Monday.”
It’ll have to wait because KU outrebounded Missouri 52-43 and had no players foul out despite the tight officiating — Missouri’s Leo Lyons and Jason Horton both fouled out.
It’ll have to wait because Kansas didn’t let Missouri’s emotion get the best of it. KU’s Russell Robinson expected that the Jayhawks weren’t the only team that watched all the upsets on Saturday.
“Just like we watched it, Missouri watched it,” Robinson said. “I think Missouri got their eyes wide open, saying, ‘Hey, that could be us.’ So it put a little more pressure on us.”
KU handled that pressure, but will its escape from Columbia be enough to vault over Memphis?
“I think we’re the best team in the nation,” Robinson said. “Hopefully, later in the season we can decide that.”
No. 3 Kansas beats Missouri
By J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH
The Kansas City Star
COLUMBIA | Their leading scorer in conference play started the game so cold he could have been a thermometer outside Mizzou Arena. They were called for 12 fouls in the first half, created only five turnovers and led by just two at intermission.
If there was ever a team ripe for an upset on the road against its bitter rival, it was the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday night at Mizzou Arena. But, unlike No. 1 North Carolina and No. 4 UCLA earlier in the day, No. 3 KU simply found a way. And, also unlike the Tar Heels and Bruins, they had to do it on the road, in a city that has traditionally been a House of Horrors for undefeated Kansas teams.
The Jayhawks stayed unbeaten with a grueling 76-70 victory over the Tigers that was impressive only because it meant their record will show “18-0” when the poll voters sit down at their laptops today and decide which undefeated team — KU or Memphis — will be the new No. 1 on Monday.
Did the Jayhawks do enough to jump No. 2 Memphis? Probably not. But on a crazy day of college basketball that saw North Carolina fall to Maryland and UCLA go down to Southern California, survival was all that mattered.
“The key to having a great season is to win games when you don’t play your best,” KU coach Bill Self said. “And that’s going to happen 10 times a year, and you gotta find a way to go 8-2 in those type of games to have a great season.”
Kansas’ wins over Arizona, USC, Georgia Tech and now Missouri make the Jayhawks 4-0 in “grind-it-out games,” as they like to call them. Saturday night’s gut-check started when Kansas fell behind 7-1 early. It wasn’t easy to make up that deficit, especially the way junior guard Brandon Rush started the game.
Rush, who had led KU in two Big 12 games with 17.5 points per game, shot the ball as if his older brother and former Missouri star Kareem Rush were yelling obscenities into his ear every time the ball left his hands.
He missed his first six shots, including four open threes, and was noticeably frustrated by his inaccuracy. Rush’s night and the way he recovered turned out to be a fitting metaphor for Kansas’ scrappy win. He finished with 13 points and nine rebounds and helped ice the game with four free throws in the game’s final 2 minutes. Rush made nine of a career-high 14 attempts from the line.
“There are some players that have to make shots to play well,” Self said. “For him, I think he still can play well and not make shots. I’m proud of his aggressiveness.”
Mario Chalmers finished with 18 points, leading KU, which spread around its scoring like a hot potato. Darnell Jackson and Darrell Arthur added 13 and 10, respectively.
For Missouri, 11-7, 1-2, it was a disappointing night, an opportunity lost. Point guard Stefhon Hannah scored 23 points in an inspired effort trying to give Missouri coach Mike Anderson his first win over Kansas. It’ll have to wait until the two teams meet again on Feb. 4 in Lawrence on ESPN’s “Big Monday.”
It’ll have to wait because KU outrebounded Missouri 52-43 and had no players foul out despite the tight officiating — Missouri’s Leo Lyons and Jason Horton both fouled out.
It’ll have to wait because Kansas didn’t let Missouri’s emotion get the best of it. KU’s Russell Robinson expected that the Jayhawks weren’t the only team that watched all the upsets on Saturday.
“Just like we watched it, Missouri watched it,” Robinson said. “I think Missouri got their eyes wide open, saying, ‘Hey, that could be us.’ So it put a little more pressure on us.”
KU handled that pressure, but will its escape from Columbia be enough to vault over Memphis?
“I think we’re the best team in the nation,” Robinson said. “Hopefully, later in the season we can decide that.”